Doll eye



May 25, 1943. L. w. POLLACK DOLL EYE Filed Jan. 8, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Mum/5 W. FOLLMK ATTORNEY.

May 1943- 1 w. POLLACK 2,320,300

DOLL EYE Filed Jan. 8, 1940 Z SheetS-Sheet 2 gym 48 10 INVENTOR.

L'HZURI/j VoLLecK BY W W ATTORNEY.

Patented May 25, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DOLL EYE Lazarus W. Pollack, New York, N. Y. Application January 8, 1940, Serial No. 312,827

14 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in dolls eyes.

More specifically, the invention contemplates improvements in the individual eyes forming a pair of eyes for a doll, and also in the apparatus for supporting the dolls eyes in a dolls head.

With respect to the individual eye, the invention contemplates characterizing the eye by a semi-spherical shell for engaging in an eye socket in a dolls head, a rod extending laterally of the shell to indirectly support the shell, and -a novel arrangement of a bar and a strip con- Still further the invention contemplates vari I ous modified ways of constructing the eye, and in one form proposes constructing the eye of a spherical shell having a lid section and an eyeball section, in edge alignment with each other and held together in a particular manner and arranged so that one of the sections supports eyelashes which project out from between the contacting edge portions of the sections.

In so far as the means for supporting a pair of eyes in a dolls head is concerned, the invention contemplates characterizing the support by a bar having telescopic sections arranged in a certain manner and associated with a spring. and mechanism for tensioning the spring and indirectly causing the pair of eyes to be resiliently urged against the eye sockets in the dolls head.

Another object of the invention is the construction of an article as described, which is simple and durable and which may be manufactured and sold ata reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a dolls head with a portion thereof broken away to disclose interior parts, and equipped with eyes constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken o the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view of the right hand eye in the dolls head shown in Fig. 2. I

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig, 3.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional enlarged view of the holding means for the pair of eyes in the dolls head shown in Fig. 2, this view being taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 3 but illustrating a modified construction of the dolls eye.

Fig. 7 is a front elevational view of a dolls eye constructed in accordance with another modification of this invention.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the lid section of the semi-spherical shell used in the dolls eye shown in Figs. 7 and 8.

Fig. 10 is ahorizontal sectional view taken on the line l0|0 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view similar to Fig. 3 but illustrating another form of the invention.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line |2-l2 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a front elevational view of a dolls eye constructed in accordance with another modification of this invention.

Fig. 14 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line I l-l4 of Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 is a rear elevational view of the dolls eye shown in Fig. 13.

Fig. 16 is a vertical sectional view similar to Fig. 14. but illustrating another modification of the invention.

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary enlarged elevationa view looking in the direction of the line |'l-l1 of Fig. 16.

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of a dolls eye and its supporting means constructed in accordance with a still further modified form of theinvention.

The dolls eyes, in accordance with this invention, includes a pair of semi-spherical shells ID .for engaging in the eye sockets ll of a dolls head l2.

A rod 13 extends horizontally between the shells It]. A bar I4 is horizontally slidably mounted on the rear of each shell II) in relation to an upright position of the dolls head. A strip I5 is pivotally mounted on each bar I4 by a. pintle It to pivot in said horizontal plane in the normal position of the dolls eyes. Each strip I5 is swivelly mounted on an end of the rod I3 to swivel in a vertical plane only under manual pressure, otherwise friction holds the parts in set positions. A means is provided for swivelly supporting the rod I3, and this means includes a bar having telescoping sections I8 and I3 mounted between the front and the back of the interior.

of the dolls head I2 as will be hereinafter more fully described.

Each semi-spherical shell I3 is imprinted, or in any other manner arranged to simulate a dolls eye having an eyeball, a pupil, an eyelid, and eyelashes. These elements may be imprinted on the frontface of the shell Ill. Each shell II) has a pair of rearwardly projecting lugs 23 and 2I. The outer lugs are offset inwards of the shells I0 so as to afford a little extra space between the outer ends of the bars I4 and the side walls of the head I2. This space is indicated by reference numerals 22 in Fig. 2. The inwardly offset lugs 20 are particularly valuable in dolls heads in which the spaces 22 are especially small. "Then the offset arrangement provides additional room for the outer ends of the bars I l. Each bar I4 is slidably supported through apertures in the lugs 20 and 2| of each semi-spherical shell. Preferably, each bar I4 is of non-circular shape in transverse cross section and engages through similarly shaped apertures in the lugs so that the bars I4 are non-rotative. However, they are slidable laterally in the horizontal plane.

Each strip I5 is formed from a strip of material which is bent at its center I5a so as to have a top section I51) and a bottom section I50. These top and bottom sections engage across the top and bottom faces of the bars I4, as clearly indicated in Fig. 4. Th pintles I6 pass through the top and bottom sections of the strips I5 and through the bars III for accomplishing the pivotal mounting of the strips I5 on'the bars I4. The swivel and friction tight connection between the strips I5 and the rod I3 is accomplished by fashioning the central portions I5a of the strips into tubular socketsin which the ends of the rod tightly engage. These tubular sockets grip the rod I3 with sufficient frictional resistance so that there is a tendency for the parts to frictionally maintain stationaryipositions into which they are forced. I

The inner sides of the shells ID are formed with openings 23 through which the end portions of the rod I3 extend. 'These openings 23 are sufficiently large so that the semi-spherical shells ID are free to pivotvand move as required during the operation of the eyes. Asuitable weight 24 is attached to a rod 24a. spot welded to the rod I3 in the conventional manner as is generally the practice in the trade to cause the dolls eyes to operate in the conventional sleeping doll fashion. Y

The means for resiliently supporting the rod I3 previously referred to includes the bar 'having the telescoping sections I8 and I9. The section I8 is hollow, while the section I9 is solid and engages into one end of the hollow section. The outer end of the section I3 is formed with a plurality of topand bottom prongs '25 adapted to straddle the rod I3and adapted to engage into the material of the dolls head I2 to supportthe rod Is. The

scopic sections I8 and I3. This tool may have jaw portions engaging into the opening 28 to abut against one of the ends of the opening and against the inner end of the section I3. Then the handle portions of the tool may be manipulated to spread apart the telescopic sections I8 and I3. Tools of this type for the engagement of similar holding devices in dolls heads are generally known and will not be disclosed in this specification.

A spring 30 is mounted within the hollow section I8 and has one end abutting against the rod I3 and its other end abuts against an element 3| adapted to hold the spring under a desirable tension. This element 3| is in the form of a finger having a portion 3 Ia extended through an opening 32 in the side wall of the section I8. This end 3 Ia abuts against the back of one of the turns of the spring 30. The element 3| is mounted on a tubular socket 33 slidably and frictionally stationarily mounted on one of the sections of the telescopic bar I8, I9. A projecting prong 34 is formed fro-m the material of the socket 33. The socket 33 frictionally maintains its position. The arrangement is such that the prong 34 may be pulled or pushed in one direction, or the other, to shift the socket 33 on the telescopic section of the bar, and so shift the element 3| to control the tension of the spring 33. The spring 30 functions to resiliently urge the rod I3 forwards in the space 36 between the prongs 25 and so indirectly urges the eye shells I3 against the sockets II of the dolls head I2.

In Fig. 6 a modified form of eye for the dolls eyes has been disclosed. This eye includes a semi-spherical shell I3 having an opening 31 through which a glass or other type of pupil 38 projects. This pupil 38 has flared sides engaging the edges of the opening 3'! for maintaining its position. A lug strip 39 is extended across the inner end of the pupil member 33 and has side portions extending along the side walls of the shell I0 and continues into outwardly extending lug portions 23 and 2|. The lug portions 20 are set inwards of the side of the shell IIl'. Edge portions Illa: from the shell II! are clamped inwards and engage shoulder portions formed on the lug strip 39 to firmly hold the lug strip connected with the shell I0. In other respects this eye is similar to the eye illustrated in Fig. 3 and identical parts may be identified by corresponding'reference numerals. The shell I0 and the lug strip 33 are formed with aligned openings 23 through which the rod I3 passes. I

In Figs. '7 to 10 inclusive another modified form of eye has been disclosed which distinguishes from the prior eyes essentially in the fact that the semi-spherical I0" thereof is formed from two sections. There is a top lid section I01; and a bottom eyeball section I02. These sections are of identical diameters and have the major portions of their adjacent edges in edge alignment with each other. The eyball section Illz is provided with an opening 31 through which a pupil 38 projects. This pupil is held in position by 2. lug strip 33.

The lid section mg, is provided with a pair of side lugs 46 oifset slightly inwards from the planes of the sides of the shell section I 03/ so as to be adapted to be immediately adjacent side lugs 4! extending rearwards from the backs of the sides of the eyeball section H22 in the same planes as the back portions of the sides of this section. The lugs 43 and 4| are secured together so as to hold the sections lily and H32 together as a unit. The attaching means comprises prongs 42 stamped from the material of one of each side pair of lugs and engaging through the material of the adjacent lugs. These prongs 42 are arranged in tubular formation. However, to prevent the lid section from pivoting relative to the eyeball section, supplementary prongs 44 are stamped from an edge of one of the lugs and engage over an edge of an adjacent lug. For example, the prongs 44 as illustrated in Fig. 8 are integral with the outer lugs M and engage over the inner lugs fill. Eyelashes "34' are cemented along the inside edge face of the lid section lily and extended outwards between the adjacent edges of the lid section my and the eyeball section 832. In other respects this eye is identical to the eye illustrated in Fig. 6 and similar parts may be identified by corresponding reference numerals.

In Figs. 11 and 12, still another modified form of dolls eye has been disclosed which distinguishes from the eye shown in Fig. 6 in the fact that the rod l3 passes through an aperture 23 formed in the lug strip 39 and engages frictionally stationarily into a tubular socket 35, but capable of being turned by a relatively large force. This socket 45 is tightly clamped upon the rod IS. The socket 45 supports a lug 46 which is provided with an elongated slot 41 slidably associated with the lug portion 26' of the lug strip 39. More specifically, the lug strip 20 is formed with niches or cutout portions 48 on opposite edges. The slot ll? is of a width to engage between the base portions of the niches of the cutouts 48. The lug 45 may be engaged in position as illustrated in the drawings by first twisting the extremity of the lug portion 25" outside of the niches or the cutouts 48 so that the twisted portion may engage through the opening M. Then when this twisted portion is through the opening it maybe twisted back into its original position and then the parts are as shown in Figs. 11 and 12.

In other respects this dolls eye is identical to the dolls eye illustrated in Fig. 6 and similar parts may be identified by corresponding reference numerals.

The dolls eye illustrated in Fig. 11 essentially dififers from the dolls eye illustrated in Fig. 6 in the fact that the eye shell It in Fig. 11 is ca- Dable of but two motions, contrasted with three motions of the identical shell in Fig. 6. The shell iii in Fig. 11. may slide axially of the rod l3 and may pivot angularly on the rod l3 when pressure is applied. The shell Iii in Fig. 6 may slide axially of the rod l3; it may pivot angularly relative to the rod is under pressure, and also may pivot angularly about the pintle i G.

In Figs. 13-15 inclusive still another modified form of eye has been disclosed which distinguishes from the prior forms in several respects. This eye includes a semi-spherical shell formed with an opening 5i through which a glass or other pupil member 52 projects. This pupil member has an enlarged base portion 520: disposed inside of the shell 56. An eyelid member 53 is engaged over the top portion of the shell 50 and is provided with a downwardly extending lug 54 at its rear which extends downwards across the rear top edge of the shell 50. The eyelid member 53 is secured to the shell 'by elements 55 which are punched from the material of the eyelid member 53 and which engage through a complementary opening in the shell 50 to securely hold these parts together.

A flat spring 56 is bowed into the shell 50 and has its top end formed with spaced finger portions 51 engaging the side edges of the lug 54 in a manner so that the upper end of the spring 55 is fixed. The lower end of the spring 56 is held stationarily in position by 2. prong 58 stamped from the material of the shell 50 and engaging through a receiving opening 59 in the spring The spring strip 56 engages the rear of the pupil 52 for firmly holding the pupil in position. The shell 5!] is provided with rearwardly extending lugs 29 and 2| for connecting with supporting parts similar to the arrangement of the eye shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

In Figs. 16 and 17 still another modified form of the invention is disclosed which distinguishes from the form shown in Figs. 13 to 15, by the manner in which the spring strip 56 is supported in position. According to this form of the invention the eyelid member 53 has a loop portion fill stamped from the material thereof and extending downwards through an opening 6| formed in the material of the shell 50. The spring strip 563' has a reduced end portion 560. which is engaged through the loop 69 to firmly connect and hold the lid member 53' in position on the shell 50. Eyelashes 62 are cemented to the underside of the bottom edge of the lid member and project outwards. The lower end of the spring 56' is held in position by a lug 63 formed from the material of the shell 50 and engaged over the end of the spring strip 56'. In other respects this form of the invention is similar to the previous forms and similar parts may be identified by like reference numerals.

In Fig. 18 another modified form is described which relates particularly to the holding means for the dolls eyes. In accordance with this form of the invention there is a support strip 65 which is engaged around the rod I3 indirectly connected with the eyes, as previously explained. This support strip frictionally engages the rod E3 to support it in a stationary position. The support strip 65 extends upwards and connects with a tubular slide 66 which is slidably mounted on the front end portion of the section iii of the support bar for the rod 13. This tubular slide 66 is engaged by the spring 30 which in turn is tensioned by the element 3!. In other respects this form of the invention is identical to that disclosed in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive and like parts may be identified by like reference numerals.

The feature of the construction in Fig. 18 is that the support bar having the telescoping sec tions l9 and i9 is located at a raised position with respect to the eyes l0 so that the prongs 25 thereof engage the material of the forehead of the material of the nose the dolls head and not located between the eye sockets. Dolls heads are generally constructed with the forehead substantially stronger than the bridge of the nose. Thus a better construction is produced which will eliminate damage and breakage of the bridge of the nose of a dolls head when theeyes are engaged therein. It is pointed out that the spring -30 indirectly through the medium of the support strip 65 resiliently urges the rod 53 forwards and ing lugs, and said so indirectly causes the eye shells ill to resiliently engage the eye sockets in the dolls head;

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. Doll eyes, comprising a pair of semi-spherical shells for engaging in the eye sockets of a dolls head, a rod extending transversely between said shells, a bar transversely slidably mounted on the rear of each of said shells, a strip pivotally mounted on each of said bars to pivot in a plane substantially parallel to the longitudinal length of the bar and swivelly and frictionally mounted on the ends of said rod to swivel about the rod under pressures, and means for resiliently supporting said rod.

2. 'Doll eyes, comprising cal. shells for engaging in the eye sockets of a dolls head, a rod extending transversely between said shells, a bar transversely slidably mounted on the rear of each of said shells, a strip'pivotally mounted on each of said bars to pivot in a plane substantially parallel to the longitudinal length of the bar and swivelly and frictionally mounted on the ends of said rod to swivel about the rod under pressures, and means for resiliently supporting said rod, said shells being provided with rearwardly projecting lugs, and said bars being transversely slidably mounted on said lugs.

3. Doll eyes, comprising a pair of semi-spherical shells for engaging in the eye sockets of a dolls head, a rod extending transversely between said shells, a bar transversely slidably mounted on the rear of each of said shells, a strip pivotally mounted on each of said bars to pivot in a plane substantially parallel to the longitudinal length of the bar and swivelly and frictionally mounted on the ends of said rod to swivel about the rod under pressures, and means for resiliently supporting said rod, said shells being provided with rearwardly projecting lugs, and said bars being transversely slidably mounted on said lugs, said bars being non-circular in transverse cross section and said lug being formed with similarly shaped openings through which the bars slidably and non-rotatively pass.

4. Doll eyes, comprising a pair of semi-spherical shells for engaging in the eye sockets of a dolls head, a rod extending transversely between said shells, a bar transversely slidably mounted on the rear of each of said shells, a strip pivotally mounted on each of said bars to pivot in a plane substantially parallel to the longitudinal length of the bar and swivelly and frictionally mounted on the ends of said rod to swivel about the rod under pressures, and means for resiliently supporting said rod, said shells being provided with rearwardly projectbars being transversely slidably mounted on said lugs, said bars being noncircular in transverse cross section and said lugs being formed with similarly shaped openings a pair of semi-spherithrough which the bars slidably and non-rotatively pass, the outer of said lugs being offset inwards to provide additional space between the outer lugs and the side walls of the dolls head.

5. Doll eyes, comprising a pair of semi-spherical shells for engaging in the eye sockets of a said bar to pivot in a plane dolls head, a rod extending transversely between said shells, a bar transversely slidably mounted on the rear of each of said shells, a strip pivotally mounted on each of said bars to pivot in a plane substantially parallel to the longitudinal length of the bar and swivelly and frictionally mounted on the ends of said rod to swivel about the rod under pressures, and means for resiliently supporting said rod, said shells being provided with rearwardly projecting lugs, and said bars being transversely slidably mounted on said lugs, said bars being non-circular in transverse cross section and said lugs being formed with similarly shaped openings through which the bars slidably and non-rotatively pass, said lugs being of separate material from the material of said shells and being connected with strip portions extending transversely across the inside portions of said shells, and pupil members set into openings in said shells and fixedly held by said strip portions.

6. A dolls eye, comprising a semi-spherical shell for engaging in an eye socket of a dolls head, a rod extending transversely of said shell, a bar transversely slidably mounted on the rear of said shell, and a strip pivotally mounted on substantially parallel to the longitudinal length of said bar and tightly swivelly mounted on the end of said rod to swivel thereon under pressure.

'7. A dolls eye, comprising a semi-spherical shell for engaging in an eye socket of a dolls head, a rod extending transversely of said shell, a bar transversely slidably mounted on the rear of said shell, and a strip pivotally mounted on said bar to pivot in a plane substantially parallel to the longitudinal length of said bar and tightly swivelly mounted on the end of said rod to swivel thereon under pressure, said strip having a top section and a bottom section joined by a bent central section, said top and bottom sections being engaged on the top and bottom sides of said bar, and a pintle engaging through these parts for providing the pivotal connection between the strip and the bar.

8. A dolls eye, comprising a semi-spherical shell for engaging in an eye socket of a dolls head, a rod extending transversely of said shell, a bar transversely slidably mounted on the rea of said shell, and a strip pivotally mounted on said bar to pivot in a plane substantially parallel to the longitudinal length of said bar and tightly swivelly mounted on the end of said rod to swivel thereon under pressure, said strip having a top section and a bottom section joined by a bent central section, said top and bottom sections being engaged on the top and bottom sides of said bar, and a pintle engaging through these parts for providing the pivotal connection between the strip and the bar, and said rod being frictionally engaged in the bent portion of said strip for lforming the tight swivel connection between these parts.

9. In a dolls eye, a semi-spherical shell for engaging in an eye socket of a dolls head and having a lid section and an eyeball section of the same curvature and in edge alignment with each other, one of said shell sections having side lugs extending rearwards thereof in the same planes as the sides of the shell section, and the other of said shell sections having side lugs extending rearwards thereof and offset slightly from the planes of the sides of the shell section and extending adjacent said lugs, means for securing said lugs together for holding the shell sections as a unit, and eyelids mounted on the rear of one of said shell sections and extending outwards between the adjacent edges thereof.

10. In a dolls eye, a semi-spherical shell for engaging in an eye socket of a dolls head and having a lid section and an eyeball section of the same curvature and in edge alignment with each other, one of said shell sections having side lugs extending rearwards thereof in the same planes as the sides of the shell section, and the other of said shell sections having side lugs extending rearwards thereof and offset slightly from the planes of the sides of the shell section and extending adjacent said lugs, means for securing said lugs together for holding the shell sections as a unit, and eyelids mounted on the rear of one of said shell sections and extending outwards between the adjacent edges thereof, said means for securing the lugs together comprising prongs stamped from one of the lugs and engaging an adjacent lug.

11. In a pair of dolls eyes, a rod for extending between and supporting the eyes, a bar having telescoping sections and having prongs on one end for straddling said rod for supporting same and for engaging into the material of the dolls head and having prongs on its other end for engaging into the material of the dolls head, one of said bar sections being hollow, and a spring mounted in said hollow bar section and abutting said rod for resiliently supporting said rod.

12. In a pair of dolls eyes, a rod for extending between and supporting the eyes, a bar having telescoping sections and having prongs on one end for straddling said rod for supporting same and for engaging into the material of the dolls head and having prongs on its other end for engaging into the material of the dolls head, one of said bar sections being hollow, and a spring mounted in said hollow bar section and abutting said rod for resiliently supporting said rod, and means for tensioning said spring.

13. In a pair of dolls eyes, a rod for extending between and supporting the eyes, a bar having telescoping sections and having prongs on one end for straddling said rod for supporting same and for engaging into the material of the dolls head and having prongs on its other end for engaging into the material of the dolls head, one of said bar sections being hollow, and a spring mounted in said hollow bar section and abutting said rod for resiliently supporting said rod, and means for tensioning said spring, comprising an element slidably and frictionally mounted on said bar and having a portion engaging against a part of said spring.

14. In a pair of dolls eyes, a rod for extending between and supporting the eyes, a bar having telescoping sections and having prongs on one end for straddling said rod for supporting same and for engaging into the material of the dolls head and having prongs on its other end for engaging into the material of the dolls head, one of said bar sections being hollow, and a spring mounted in said hollow bar section and abutting said rod for resiliently supporting said rod, and means for tensioning said spring, comprising an element slidably and frictionally mounted on said bar and having a portion engaging against a part of said spring, said element having a socket portion frictionally engaged on the bar, and a prong on the socket portion by which it may be forced to various positions on said bar.

LAZURUS W. POLLACK. 

